Risk Assessment and Management Strategies

The introduction of emerging technologies requires reconsideration of the overall approach to risk assessment and management in the early stages of development. This is needed to ensure that the objectives for growth and iimovation, and the protection of health and environment, are not compromised. 

Especially in the light of long-term investments in iimovation, a reliable consistent risk-based framework is essential on the regulatory side and in the public debate. The goals are the following  

The work should aim to define and characterize (i) risk, (ii) perceived risk, (iii) risk management options and (iv) risk communication options to meet stakeholder concerns. Key activities to reach these scopes are  

We have discussed a series of examples and aspects, such as the problem of risk and sustainability assessment, tools and principles for a sustainable industrial development (in particular, the issue of scaling-down and intensification of chemical processes, and the role of catalysis), and problems and opportunities in substituting chemical and processes (also in the view of REACH legislation, and of the international chemicals policy on sustainability). These topics are expanded in the following chapters, while the final section on industrial case histories for sustainable chemical processes provides further hints on these aspects. 

The final section of this chapter has been dedicated to a concise discussion of a vision and roadmap for sustainability through chemistry, taken from the implementation action plan prepared by the European Technology Platform on Sustainable Chemistry. This plan evidences the pervasive role of chemistry for our society and thus how a next step is necessary in R D to really realize a sustainable world through chemistry innovation. 

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It is therefore essential in any risk governance cycle to start with the frames of those who are involved in the issue. If these frames are not taken seriously, the risk governance effort may create major controversies and conflicts right from the beginning. Once frames are ignored, it is very difficult to develop a risk assessment and management strategy that is supported and accepted by all the major stakeholders. 

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